BJP gives it back, says govt to blame for delayed bills

Responding to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's attack on the opposition for delaying passage of crucial food security and land acquisition billls, the BJP said it was the Manmohan Singh dispensation that was not keen on passing them but she was trying to put the blame on it. HT reports.

Responding to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's attack on the opposition for delaying passage of crucial food security and land acquisition billls, the BJP said it was the Manmohan Singh dispensation that was not keen on passing them but she was trying to put the blame on it.

BJP's new spokesperson Sudanshu Trivedi said the delay was not due to the opposition but the government, which was not keen.

"We want the food security and the land acquisition bills to be passed with certain amendments. Did this government not get the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal passed in Parliament and introduce FDI in retail despite our opposition. So, why can't they get these bills passed? The first two were matters of interest to them but these two bills are not."

Trivedi said the Congress had been in power for 56 years since Independence yet it had failed to provide food security to the people.

He also refuted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's contention that, when Congress-led UPA came to power in 2004, it inherited a glass which was "half-empty."

He cited GDP growth figures to say "the glass was full to the brim in 2004 and Congress-led UPA is responsible for the dismal economic situation prevalent today."

On the other hand, Trivedi said, "the little economic development, which UPA government claims, is due to major contribution of the BJP and NDA-ruled states. Most of our state governments have kept more than 10% growth rate for many consecutive years."